Powerboat racing's premier championship will head to Kazakhstan for the first time in its history, with H2O Racing confirming a new round on the 2027 calendar.
The event will take place in Kapchagay, in southeastern Kazakhstan, in August next year. It comes through a collaboration with IPROMEDIA, the local organiser of the Jeddah Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, under the umbrella of iHolding chaired by Mr Alain Khoueiry, together with the Almaty Region Government.
The move follows F1H2O's first-ever race in Central Asia this year, the Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan, which organisers say proved the region's enthusiasm and capability for hosting major global sporting events.
H2O Racing CEO Raimondo di San Germano confirmed the agreement in a statement announcing the new round.
"We are delighted to have finalised this agreement and to bring F1H2O to Kazakhstan. I have been really impressed by the enthusiasm of our partners in Kazakhstan, and the facilities there naturally lend themselves to powerboat racing," he said.
"Like us, our Kazakh partners were very impressed with what they saw at our first Grand Prix in Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan and recognised the potential of an F1H2O race to create significant commercial and, especially, tourism opportunities for the country and the region, while bringing the beauty and attractiveness of the area to a global audience."
"We at H2O Racing are delighted to be deepening our ties in the region and have the highest expectations for next year's inaugural Grand Prix of Kazakhstan."
The Kazakhstan round follows the Kyrgyzstan race as the championship expands further into Central Asia.
